Semiconductor device

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor device may be provided. The semiconductor device may include a first chip and a second chip. The second chip may be configured to receive signals from the first chip to generate a latch address based on the received signals from the first chip.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. applicationSer. No. 15/184,064, filed on Jun. 16, 2016, and claims priority under35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Korean application number 10-2016-0006435, filed onJan. 19, 2016, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Various embodiments may generally relate to a semiconductor integratedcircuit, and more particularly, to a semiconductor device.

2. Related Art

In order to provide a semiconductor device with a massive storagecapacity, the semiconductor device may include stacked chips. It may berequired to reduce a power consumption of the semiconductor deviceincluding these stacked chips.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, there may be provided a semiconductordevice. The semiconductor device may include an externalsignal-inputting circuit, a plurality of first signal-transmittingcircuit, a command-delaying circuit, a second signal-transmittingcircuit and an address-latching circuit. The external signal-inputtingcircuit may be configured to receive an external clock, an externalcommand and an external address. The first signal-transmitting circuitmay be configured to output signals outputted from the externalsignal-inputting circuit as an internal clock, an internal command andan internal address. The command-delaying circuit may be configured todelay the internal command for a period of the internal clock and tooutput the delayed internal command. The second signal-transmittingcircuit may be configured to output a signal outputted from thecommand-delaying circuit as a delay command based on a master enablingsignal. The address-latching circuit may be configured to latch theinternal address based on the internal command and to output a latchedsignal as a latch address based on the delay command.

According to an embodiment, there may be provided a semiconductordevice. The semiconductor device may include a first chip and a secondchip. The second chip may be configured to receive signals from thefirst chip to generate a latch address based on the received signalsfrom the first chip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a representation of an example ofa semiconductor device in accordance with examples of embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a representation of an exampleof a signal-transmitting circuit of a semiconductor device associatedwith FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an example of a representation ofa system employing a semiconductor device with the various embodimentsdiscussed above with relation to FIGS. 1-2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various examples of embodiments will be described hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which some examples of theembodiments are illustrated. The embodiments may, however, be embodiedin many different forms and should not be construed as limited to theexamples of embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these examples ofembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure tothose skilled in the art. In the drawings, the sizes and relative sizesof layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, itcan be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layeror intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to”or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are nointervening elements or layers present. Like numerals refer to likeelements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any andall combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexamples of embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of thepresent disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and“the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood thatthe terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude thepresence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It willbe further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

Hereinafter, examples of the embodiments will be explained withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a representation of an example ofa semiconductor device in accordance with examples of embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, a semiconductor device of this example of anembodiment may include a first chip 100 and a second chip 200. The firstchip 100 and the second chip 200 may be electrically connected with eachother via through silicon vias (TSV).

The first chip 100 may include a first external signal-inputting circuit110, a first command-delaying circuit 120, a first address-latchingcircuit 130, a first internal signal-processing circuit 140, a firstsignal-transmitting circuit 151, a second signal-transmitting circuit152, a third signal-transmitting circuit 153 and a fourthsignal-transmitting circuit 154.

The first external signal-inputting circuit 110 may receive externalcontrol signals inputted from an external device such as a controller.The first external signal-inputting circuit 110 may transmit theexternal control signals into the semiconductor device. The externalcontrol signals may include an external address ADD_ext, an externalcommand CMD_ext, an external clock CLK_ext, etc.

The first external signal-inputting circuit 110 may include a firstclock-inputting circuit 111, a first command-inputting circuit 112 and afirst address-inputting circuit 113, etc.

The first clock-inputting circuit 111 may receive and buffer theexternal clock CLK_ext. The first clock-inputting circuit 111 may outputthe buffered external clock CLK_ext into the first chip 100. The firstclock-inputting circuit 111 may include a clock buffer.

The first command-inputting circuit 112 may receive, buffer and decodethe external command CMD_ext. The first command-inputting circuit 112may output the decoded external command CMD_ext into the first chip 100.The first command-inputting circuit 112 may include a command buffer anda command decoder.

The first address-inputting circuit 113 may receive and buffer theexternal address ADD_ext. The first address-inputting circuit 113 mayoutput the buffered external address ADD_ext into the first chip 100.

The first command-delaying circuit 120 may delay a first internalcommand CMD_int1. The first command-delaying circuit 120 may output thedelayed first internal command CMD_int1. For example, the firstcommand-delaying circuit 120 may delay the first internal commandCMD_int1 for a predetermined period of a first internal clock CLK_int1.

The first address-latching circuit 130 may latch a first internaladdress ADD_int1 in response to the first internal command CMD_int1 anda first delay command CMD_d1. The first address-latching circuit 130 mayoutput the latched signal as a first latch address ADD_L1. For example,the first address-latching circuit 130 may latch the first internaladdress ADD_int1 in response to the first internal command CMD_int1. Thefirst address-latching circuit 130 may output the latched signal as thefirst latch address ADD_L1 in response to the first delay commandCMD_d1.

The first internal signal-processing circuit 140 may generate signalsfor operating the first chip 100 in response to the first latch addressADD_L1 and the first delay command CMD_d1. For example, the firstinternal signal-processing circuit 140 may decode the first latchaddress ADD_L1 to generate an address-decoding signal for designatingpositions of circuits, for example, positions in a data storage regionthrough which data may be transmitted. The first internalsignal-processing circuit 140 may decode the first delay command CMD_d1to generate control signals for operating the first chip 100 such as aread operation, a write operation, a refresh operations, etc.

The first internal signal-processing circuit 140 may include a firstcommand-processing circuit 141 and a first address decoder 142.

The first command-processing circuit 141 may generate the controlsignals for operating the first chip 100 in response to the first delaycommand CMD_d1.

The first address decoder 142 may decode the first latch address ADD_L1to set the positions of the data storage region through which the datamay be transmitted.

The first signal-transmitting circuit 151 may output a signal outputtedfrom the first clock-inputting circuit 111 as the first internal clockCLK_int1 in response to a master enabling signal M_en. For example, whenthe mask enabling signal M_en is enabled, the first signal-transmittingcircuit 151 may output the signal from the first clock-inputting circuit111 as the first internal clock CLK_int1. When the master enablingsignal M_en is disabled, the first signal-transmitting circuit 151 mayblock the signal from the first clock-inputting circuit 111 as the firstinternal clock CLK_int1.

The second signal-transmitting circuit 152 may output a signal outputtedfrom the first command-inputting circuit 112 as the first internalcommand CMD_int1 in response to the master enabling signal M_en. Forexample, when the mask enabling signal M_en is enabled, the secondsignal-transmitting circuit 152 may output the signal from the firstcommand-inputting circuit 112 as the first internal command CMD_int1.When the master enabling signal M_en is disabled, the secondsignal-transmitting circuit 152 may block the signal from the firstcommand-inputting circuit 112 as the first internal command CMD_int1.

The third signal-transmitting circuit 153 may output a signal outputtedfrom the first address-inputting circuit 113 as the first internaladdress ADD_int1 in response to the master enabling signal M_en. Forexample, when the mask enabling signal M_en is enabled, the thirdsignal-transmitting circuit 153 may output the signal from the firstaddress-inputting circuit 113 as the first internal address ADD_int1.When the master enabling signal M_en is disabled, the thirdsignal-transmitting circuit 153 may block the signal from the firstaddress-inputting circuit 113 as the first internal address ADD_int1.

The fourth signal-transmitting circuit 154 may output a signal outputtedfrom the first command-delaying circuit 120 as the first delay commandCMD_d1 in response to the master enabling signal M_en. For example, whenthe mask enabling signal M_en is enabled, the fourth signal-transmittingcircuit 154 may output the signal from the first command-delayingcircuit 120 as the first delay command CMD_d1. When the master enablingsignal M_en is disabled, the fourth signal-transmitting circuit 154 mayblock the signal from the first command-delaying circuit 120 as thefirst delay command CMD_d1.

The second chip 200 may be stacked on the first chip 100. The first chip100 and the second chip 200 may be electrically connected with eachother through first to third TSVs TSV1, TSV2 and TSV3. The first TSVTSV1 may output the first internal address ADD_int1 of the first chip100 as a second internal address ADD_int2 of the second chip 200. Thesecond TSV TSV2 may output the first internal command CMD_int1 of thefirst chip 100 as a second internal command CMD_int2 of the second chip200. The third TSV TSV3 may output the first delay command CMD_d1 of thefirst chip 100 as a second delay command CMD_d2.

The second chip 200 may include a second external signal-inputtingcircuit 210, a second command-delaying circuit 220, a secondaddress-latching circuit 230, a second internal signal-processingcircuit 240, a fifth signal-transmitting circuit 251, a sixthsignal-transmitting circuit 252, a seventh signal-transmitting circuit253 and an eighth signal-transmitting circuit 254.

The second external signal-inputting circuit 210 may receive externalcontrol signals inputted from an external device such as a controller.The second external signal-inputting circuit 210 may transmit theexternal control signals into the semiconductor device. The externalcontrol signals may include an external address ADD_ext, an externalcommand CMD_ext, an external clock CLK_ext, etc.

The second external signal-inputting circuit 210 may include a secondclock-inputting circuit 211, a second command-inputting circuit 212 anda second address-inputting circuit 213, etc.

The second clock-inputting circuit 211 may receive and buffer theexternal clock CLK_ext. The second clock-inputting circuit 211 mayoutput the buffered external clock CLK_ext into the second chip 200. Thesecond clock-inputting circuit 211 may include a clock buffer.

The second command-inputting circuit 212 may receive, buffer and decodethe external command CMD_ext. The second command-inputting circuit 212may output the decoded external command CMD_ext into the second chip200. The second command-inputting circuit 212 may include a commandbuffer and a command decoder.

The second address-inputting circuit 213 may receive and buffer theexternal address ADD_ext. The second address-inputting circuit 213 mayoutput the buffered external address ADD_ext into the second chip 200.

The second command-delaying circuit 220 may delay a second internalcommand CMD_int2. The second command-delaying circuit 220 may output thedelayed second internal command CMD_int2. For example, the secondcommand-delaying circuit 220 may delay the second internal commandCMD_int2 for a predetermined period of a second internal clock CLK_int2.

The second address-latching circuit 230 may latch a second internaladdress ADD_int2 in response to the second internal command CMD_int2 anda second delay command CMD_d2. The second address-latching circuit 230may output the latched signal as a second latch address ADD_L2. Forexample, the second address-latching circuit 230 may latch the secondinternal address ADD_int2 in response to the second internal commandCMD_int2. The second address-latching circuit 230 may output the latchedsignal as the second latch address ADD_L2 in response to the seconddelay command CMD_d2.

The second internal signal-processing circuit 240 may generate signalsfor operating the second chip 200 in response to the second latchaddress ADD_L2 and the second delay command CMD_d2. For example, thesecond internal signal-processing circuit 240 may decode the secondlatch address ADD_L2 to generate an address-decoding signal fordesignating positions of circuits, for example, positions in a datastorage region through which data may be transmitted. The secondinternal signal-processing circuit 240 may decode the second delaycommand CMD_d2 to generate control signals for operating the second chip200 such as a read operation, a write operation, a refresh operations,etc.

The second internal signal-processing circuit 240 may include a secondcommand-processing circuit 241 and a second address decoder 242.

The second command-processing circuit 241 may generate the controlsignals for operating the second chip 100 in response to the seconddelay command CMD_d2.

The second address decoder 242 may decode the second latch addressADD_L2 to set the positions of the data storage region through which thedata may be transmitted.

The fifth signal-transmitting circuit 251 may output a signal outputtedfrom the second clock-inputting circuit 211 as the second internal clockCLK_int2 in response to the master enabling signal M_en. For example,when the mask enabling signal M_en is enabled, the fifthsignal-transmitting circuit 251 may output the signal from the secondclock-inputting circuit 211 as the second internal clock CLK_int2. Whenthe master enabling signal M_en is disabled, the fifthsignal-transmitting circuit 251 may block the signal from the secondclock-inputting circuit 211 as the second internal clock CLK_int2.

The sixth signal-transmitting circuit 252 may output a signal outputtedfrom the second command-inputting circuit 212 as the second internalcommand CMD_int2 in response to the master enabling signal M_en. Forexample, when the mask enabling signal M_en is enabled, the sixthsignal-transmitting circuit 252 may output the signal from the secondcommand-inputting circuit 212 as the second internal command CMD_int2.When the master enabling signal M_en is disabled, the sixthsignal-transmitting circuit 252 may block the signal from the secondcommand-inputting circuit 212 as the second internal command CMD_int2.

The seventh signal-transmitting circuit 253 may output a signaloutputted from the second address-inputting circuit 213 as the secondinternal address ADD_int2 in response to the master enabling signalM_en. For example, when the mask enabling signal M_en is enabled, theseventh signal-transmitting circuit 253 may output the signal from thesecond address-inputting circuit 213 as the second internal addressADD_int2. When the master enabling signal M_en is disabled, the seventhsignal-transmitting circuit 253 may block the signal from the secondaddress-inputting circuit 213 as the second internal address ADD_int2.

The eighth signal-transmitting circuit 254 may output a signal outputtedfrom the second command-delaying circuit 220 as the second delay commandCMD_d2 in response to the master enabling signal M_en. For example, whenthe mask enabling signal M_en is enabled, the eighth signal-transmittingcircuit 254 may output the signal from the second command-delayingcircuit 220 as the second delay command CMD_d2. When the master enablingsignal M_en is disabled, the eighth signal-transmitting circuit 254 mayblock the signal from the second command-delaying circuit 220 as thesecond delay command CMD_d2.

The first TSV TSV1 may be connected between an output of the thirdsignal-transmitting circuit 153 and an output of the seventhsignal-transmitting circuit 253 to output the first internal addressADD_int1 of the first chip 100 as the second internal address ADD_int2of the second chip 200. The second TSV TSV2 may be connected between anoutput of the second signal-transmitting circuit 152 and an output ofthe sixth signal-transmitting circuit 252 to output the first internalcommand CMD_int1 of the first chip 100 as the second internal commandCMD_int2 of the second chip 200. The third TSV TSV3 may be connectedbetween an output of the fourth signal-transmitting circuit 154 and anoutput of the eighth signal-transmitting circuit 254 to output the firstdelay command CMD_d1 of the first chip 100 as the second delay commandCMD_d2 of the second chip 200.

The first to eighth signal-transmitting circuits 151, 152, 153, 154,251, 252, 253 and 254 may output or not output the signals inputtedtherein in response to the master enabling signal M_en. The first toeighth signal-transmitting circuits 151, 152, 153, 154, 251, 252, 253and 254 may include substantially the same configuration except for theinput signals.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a representation of an exampleof a signal-transmitting circuit of a semiconductor device associatedwith FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of the first to eighth signal-transmittingcircuits 151, 152, 153, 154, 251, 252, 253 and 254 may include a firstinverter IV1, a second inverter IV2 and a control inverter IVC1.

The first inverter IV1 may receive an input signal IN_signal. The secondinverter IV2 may receive the master enabling signal M_en. The controlinverter IVC1 may include a first control terminal into which an outputsignal from the second inverter IV2 may be inputted, a second controlterminal into which the master enabling signal M_en may be inputted, andan output terminal through which an output signal OUT_signal may beoutputted.

Hereinafter, operations of the first signal-transmitting circuit 151 maybe explained, for example, with reference to FIG. 2. Each of the firstto eighth signal-transmitting circuits 151, 152, 153, 154, 251, 252, 253and 254 may have substantially the same or same configurations as thefirst signal-transmitting circuit except input and output signalsthereof.

When the master enabling signal M_en is enabled, the first inverter IV1may reverse the output signal from the first clock-inputting circuit111. The first inverter IV1 may output the reversed output signal.

The second inverter IV2 may reverse and output the master enablingsignal M_en.

When the reversed master enabling signal M_en is inputted into the firstcontrol terminal of the control inverter IVC and the master enablingsignal M_en is inputted into the second control terminal of the controlinverter IVC, the control inverter IVC may be activated. The activatedcontrol inverter IVC may reverse the output signal from the firstinverter IV1. The activated control inverter IVC may output the reservedoutput signal as the first internal clock CLK_int1.

As a result, when the master enabling signal M_en is enabled, the firstsignal-transmitting circuit 151 may be activated. The activated firstsignal-transmitting circuit 151 may output the output signal from thefirst clock-inputting circuit 111 as the first internal clock CLK_int1.

When the master enabling signal M_en is disabled, the disabled masterenabling signal M_en may be inputted into the first and second controlterminals of the control inverter IVC so that the control inverter IVCmay be inactivated. The inactivated control inverter IVC may block theoutput signal from the first inverter IV1 as the first internal clockCLK_int1.

Hereinafter, operations of the semiconductor device in accordance withexamples of embodiments may be discussed below.

The second chip 200 may be stacked on the first chip 100. The first chip100 may be operated as a master chip. The second chip 200 may beoperated as a slave chip. The first chip 100 may be connected with thecontroller to transmit the control signals of the controller to thefirst and second chip 100 and 200. The master enabling signal M_en ofthe first chip 100 as the master chip may be enabled. The masterenabling signal M_en of the second chip 200 as the slave chip may bedisabled.

The enabled master enabling signal M_en may be provided to the firstchip 100. The disabled mater enabling signal M_en may be provided to thesecond chip 200.

The first chip 100 as the master chip may receive the control signalsfrom the controller such as the external address ADD_ext, the externalcommand CMD_ext and the external clock CLK_ext. Internal operations ofthe first chip 100 may be discussed below.

The first clock-inputting circuit 111 may buffer the external clockCLK_ext. The first clock-inputting circuit 111 may output the bufferedexternal clock CLK_ext.

The first command-inputting circuit 112 may buffer and decode theexternal command CMD_ext. The first command-inputting circuit 112 mayoutput the buffered and decoded external command CMD_ext.

The first address-inputting circuit 113 may buffer the external addressADD_ext. The first address-inputting circuit 113 may output the bufferedexternal address ADD_ext.

When the enabled master enabling signal M_en is provided to the firstsignal-transmitting circuit 151, the first signal-transmitting circuit151 may output the output signal from the first clock-inputting circuit111 as the first internal clock CLK_int1.

When the enabled master enabling signal M_en is provided to the secondsignal-transmitting circuit 152, the second signal-transmitting circuit152 may output the output signal from the first command-inputtingcircuit 112 as the first internal command CMD_int1.

When the enabled master enabling signal M_en is provided to the thirdsignal-transmitting circuit 153, the third signal-transmitting circuit153 may output the output signal from the first address-inputtingcircuit 113 as the first internal address ADD_int1.

The first command-delaying circuit 120 may delay the first internalcommand CMD_int1 for the period of the first internal clock CLK_int1.

When the enabled master enabling signal M_en is provided to the fourthsignal-transmitting circuit 154, the fourth signal-transmitting circuit154 may output the output signal from the first command-delaying circuit120 as the first delay command CMD_d1.

The first address-latching circuit 130 may latch the first internaladdress ADD_int1 in response to the first internal command CMD_int1. Thefirst address-latching circuit 130 may output the latched signal as thefirst latch address ADD_L1 in response to the first delay commandCMD_L1.

The first command-processing circuit 141 may be operated in response tothe first delay command CMD_d1.

The first address decoder 142 may decode the first latch address ADD_L1.

Internal operations of the second chip 200 to which the disabled masterenabling signal M_en is provided may be discussed below.

The external clock CLK_ext, the external command CMD_ext and theexternal address ADD_ext may not be inputted into the second chip 200 asthe slave chip.

When the disabled master enabling signal M_en may be inputted into thefifth to eighth signal-transmitting circuits 251, 252, 253 and 254, thefifth to eighth signal-transmitting circuits 251, 252, 253 and 254 maybe inactivated.

The inactivated fifth signal-transmitting circuit 251 may block theoutput signal from the second clock-inputting circuit 211 as the secondinternal clock CLK_int2.

The inactivated sixth signal-transmitting circuit 252 may block theoutput signal from the second command-inputting circuit 212 as thesecond internal command CMD_int2.

The inactivated seventh signal-transmitting circuit 253 may block theoutput signal from the second address-inputting circuit 213 as thesecond internal address ADD_int2.

The inactivated eighth signal-transmitting circuit 254 may block theoutput signal from the second command-delaying circuit 220 as the seconddelay command CMD_d2.

The first TSV TSV1 may transmit the first internal address ADD_int1 ofthe first chip 100 to the second chip 200. The transmitted signal may beoutputted from the second chip 200 as the second internal addressADD_int2.

The second TSV TSV2 may transmit the first internal command CMD_int1 ofthe first chip 100 to the second chip 200. The transmitted signal may beoutputted from the second chip 200 as the second internal commandCMD_int2.

The third TSV TSV3 may transmit the first delay command CMD_d1 of thefirst chip 100 to the second chip 200. The transmitted signal may beoutputted from the second chip 200 as the second delay command CMD_d2.

The second address-latching circuit 230 of the second chip 200 as theslave chip may receive the second internal address ADD_int2, the secondinternal command CMD_int2 and the second delay command CMD_d2 throughthe first to third TSVs TSV1, TSV2 and TSV3.

The second address-latching circuit 230 may latch the second internaladdress ADD_int2 in response to the second internal command CMD_int2.The second address-latching circuit 230 may output the latched signal asthe second latch address ADD_L2 in response to the second delay commandCMD_d2.

The second command-processing circuit 241 may be operated in response tothe second delay command CMD_d2.

The second address decoder 242 may decode the second latch addressADD_L2.

The second chip 200 as the slave chip may be operated in response to thecommands and the addresses transmitted from the first chip 100.Particularly, the second address-latching circuit 230 of the second chip200 may receive the second internal command CMD_int2, the secondinternal address ADD_int2 and the second delay command CMD_d2 from thefirst chip 100. The second address-latching circuit 230 may latch thesecond internal address ADD_int2 in response to the second internalcommand CMD_int2. The second address-latching circuit 230 may output thelatched signal as the second latch address ADD_L2 in response to thesecond delay command CMD_d2.

As a result, the second chip 200 may not operate the secondcommand-delaying circuit 220. The second chip 200 may latch the secondinternal address ADD_int2 in response to the second internal commandCMD_int2 from the first chip 100 and output the latched signal as thesecond latch address ADD_L2 in response to the second delay commandCMD_d2 from the first chip 100. The second chip 200 may output thelatched signal as the second latch address ADD_L2.

The second command-processing circuit 241 and the second address decoder242 for operating the second chip 200 may be operated in response to thesignals transmitted from the first chip 100 such as the internalcommand, the internal address and the delay command. The second chip 200may not operate the second command-delaying circuit 220. The secondcommand-delaying circuit 220 of the second chip 200 may be substitutedwith the first command-delaying circuit 120 of the first chip 100.

A semiconductor device according to the present invention may comprise:a first chip (100) including a first command-delaying circuit (120) anda first address-latching circuit (130); and a second chip (200)including a second command-delaying circuit (220) and a secondaddress-latching circuit (230), wherein the second address-latchingcircuit (230) is configured to generate a latch address based on anoutput signal of the first command-delaying circuit (120) or an outputsignal of the second command-delaying circuit (220) depending on whetherthe first chip (100) is operating as a master chip and the second chip(200) is operating as a slave chip or whether the first chip (100) isoperating as the slave chip and the second chip (200) is operating asthe master chip. The first address-latching circuit (130) is configuredto generate a latch address based on an output signal of the secondcommand-delaying circuit (220) or an output signal of the firstcommand-delaying circuit (120) depending on whether the first chip (100)is operating as the master chip and the second chip (200) is operatingas the slave chip or whether the first chip (100) is operating as theslave chip and the second chip (200) is operating as the master chip. Ifthe second address-latching circuit (230) generates the latch addressbased on the output signal of the first command-delaying circuit (120)then the second command-delaying circuit (220) is prevented fromoperating. If the second address-latching circuit (230) generates thelatch address based on the output signal of the first command-delayingcircuit (120) then the second command-delaying circuit (220) isprevented from supplying an output signal to the second address-latchingcircuit (230).

The semiconductor devices as discussed above (see FIGS. 1-2) areparticular useful in the design of memory devices, processors, andcomputer systems. For example, referring to FIG. 3, a block diagram of asystem employing a semiconductor device in accordance with the variousembodiments are illustrated and generally designated by a referencenumeral 1000. The system 1000 may include one or more processors (i.e.,Processor) or, for example but not limited to, central processing units(“CPUs”) 1100. The processor (i.e., CPU) 1100 may be used individuallyor in combination with other processors (i.e., CPUs). While theprocessor (i.e., CPU) 1100 will be referred to primarily in thesingular, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that asystem 1000 with any number of physical or logical processors (i.e.,CPUs) may be implemented.

A chipset 1150 may be operably coupled to the processor (i.e., CPU)1100. The chipset 1150 is a communication pathway for signals betweenthe processor (i.e., CPU) 1100 and other components of the system 1000.Other components of the system 1000 may include a memory controller1200, an input/output (“I/O”) bus 1250, and a disk driver controller1300. Depending on the configuration of the system 1000, any one of anumber of different signals may be transmitted through the chipset 1150,and those skilled in the art will appreciate that the routing of thesignals throughout the system 1000 can be readily adjusted withoutchanging the underlying nature of the system 1000.

As stated above, the memory controller 1200 may be operably coupled tothe chipset 1150. The memory controller 1200 may include at least onesemiconductor device as discussed above with reference to FIGS. 1-2.Thus, the memory controller 1200 can receive a request provided from theprocessor (i.e., CPU) 1100, through the chipset 1150. In alternateembodiments, the memory controller 1200 may be integrated into thechipset 1150. The memory controller 1200 may be operably coupled to oneor more memory devices 1350. In an embodiment, the memory devices 1350may include the at least one semiconductor device as discussed abovewith relation to FIGS. 1-2, the memory devices 1350 may include aplurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines for defining aplurality of memory cells. The memory devices 1350 may be any one of anumber of industry standard memory types, including but not limited to,single inline memory modules (“SIMMs”) and dual inline memory modules(“DIMMs”). Further, the memory devices 1350 may facilitate the saferemoval of the external data storage devices by storing bothinstructions and data.

The chipset 1150 may also be coupled to the I/O bus 1250. The I/O bus1250 may serve as a communication pathway for signals from the chipset1150 to I/O devices 1410, 1420, and 1430. The I/O devices 1410, 1420,and 1430 may include, for example but are not limited to, a mouse 1410,a video display 1420, or a keyboard 1430. The I/O bus 1250 may employany one of a number of communications protocols to communicate with theI/O devices 1410, 1420, and 1430. In an embodiment, the I/O bus 1250 maybe integrated into the chipset 1150.

The disk driver controller 1300 may be operably coupled to the chipset1150. The disk driver controller 1300 may serve as the communicationpathway between the chipset 1150 and one internal disk driver 1450 ormore than one internal disk driver 1450. The internal disk driver 1450may facilitate disconnection of the external data storage devices bystoring both instructions and data. The disk driver controller 1300 andthe internal disk driver 1450 may communicate with each other or withthe chipset 1150 using virtually any type of communication protocol,including, for example but not limited to, all of those mentioned abovewith regard to the I/O bus 1250.

It is important to note that the system 1000 described above in relationto FIG. 3 is merely one example of a semiconductor device as discussedabove with relation to FIGS. 1-2. In alternate embodiments, such as, forexample but not limited to, cellular phones or digital cameras, thecomponents may differ from the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 3.

The above embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrative and notlimitative. Various alternatives and equivalents are possible. Theexamples of the embodiments are not limited by the embodiments describedherein. Nor is the present disclosure limited to any specific type ofsemiconductor device. Other additions, subtractions, or modificationsare obvious in view of the present disclosure and are intended to fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor device comprising: an externalsignal-inputting circuit configured to receive and output an externalclock, an external command and an external address; a plurality ofsignal-transmitting circuits configured to output signals outputted fromthe external signal-inputting circuit as an internal clock, an internalcommand and an internal address based on a master enabling signal; acommand-delaying circuit configured to delay the internal command for aperiod of the internal clock; another signal-transmitting circuitconfigured to output a signal outputted from the command-delayingcircuit as a delay command based on the master enabling signal; and anaddress-latching circuit configured to latch the internal address basedon the internal command and to output a latched signal as a latchaddress based on the delay command.
 2. The semiconductor device of claim1, wherein the master enabling signal is enabled when a chip in thesemiconductor device is operated as a master chip, and the masterenabling signal is disabled when the chip is operated as a slave chip.3. The semiconductor device of claim 2, wherein the plurality ofsignal-transmitting circuits output the signals outputted from theexternal signal-inputting circuit as the internal clock, the internalcommand and the internal address when the master enabling signal isenabled, and the plurality of signal-transmitting circuits block thesignals outputted from the external signal-inputting circuit as theinternal clock, the internal command and the internal address when themaster enabling signal is disabled.
 4. The semiconductor device of claim2, wherein the another signal-transmitting circuit outputs the signaloutputted from the command-delaying circuit as the delay command whenthe master enabling signal is enabled, and the anothersignal-transmitting circuit blocks the signal outputted from thecommand-delaying circuit as the delay command when the master enablingsignal is disabled.
 5. The semiconductor device of claim 1, furthercomprising: an address decoder configured to decode the latch address;and a command-processing circuit operated based on the delay command.